FOX Shifts Into Midseason 'Drive'

FOX has ordered up 12 episodes of the ensemble racing drama "Drive" for a midseason/spring premiere.

Including the pilot, which was created by Tim Minear ("Angel") and Ben Queen, FOX has now signed on for 13 episodes of "Drive," which focuses on an illegal cross-country race.

The pilot cast includes Ivan Sergei, Alan Ruck, Kristin Lehman, Melanie Lynskey, Emily Stone, Shahine Ezell and Andres Saenz-Hudson. Because of the structure of the ensemble, the cast can apparently expand or contract as required, which may explain how Sergei was able to commit to the USA pilot "To Love and Die in L.A." just last week.

Greg Yaitanes ("Bones") directed the "Drive" pilot and will executive produce along with Queen and Minear.

Minear's relationship with FOX has included such swiftly cancelled cult favorites as "Firefly," "Wonderfalls" and "The Inside." Minear recently joined the creative braintrust on FOX's "Standoff."

The pick-up for "Drive" means that "Beyond," a space-themed pilot also in development at FOX, won't move forward, according to the industry trade papers.